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THE HEALTH OF BARKING
Remedial exercises form a vital part of the service, especially in children. With
a highly trained and really enthusiastic staff, wonders can be worked on the child
with poor posture, chronic bronchitis, bandy or knock knees, or weak feet.
You have probably noticed how, a little while after having a baby, a woman's
figure often tends to become less shapely. She will carry herself badly and her
feet may turn out. This unhappy change is preventable and to this end you extended
your orthopaedic service to cover a post-natal course of exercises. This extension
could not be carried on during the war but has recently been started again. Of
course, to get first-class results the mother must drink her extra milk, take her
vitamin supplements and pay real attention to her feeding and general health during
pregnancy.
In the near future, it is hoped to go further and to start again, as before the war,
treatment to mothers while still in the Maternity Unit.
Your Orthopaedic Specialist, Mr. A. M. A. Moore, has continued to direct
the work of this department and we are lucky to have two very skilled physiotherapists
to carry out the treatment. Three further physiotherapists are required
but it has not been found possible to fill these vacancies, a circumstance which
greatly hampers this important service.
The clinic where this work is carried out is situated in the Manor School, but.
where necessary, treatment can be carried out in the patient's own home
Statistics in relation to the work of this service are given in Tables VI and VII
of Appendix B.
Ear, Nose and Throat Service.
It was in 1938 that a special Ear, Nose and Throat Service was launched in
Barking, partly for the convenience of residents and pardy, and principally, because
it has been found that where services are not readily accessible the public will
neglect to get treatment even for severe maladies.
A session is held weekly in the Central Clinic by Mr. Courtney Mason. School
children are treated (including operative treatment) free of charge and there are
special rates for cases coming within the ambit of the Maternity and Child Welfare
Scheme. The general public are treated under a special Public Scheme.
Before the war, arrangements were made to operate on tonsils and adenoids in
a ward set aside to that end in the Barking Hospital, but hostilities prevented the
operation of this scheme until 1941. Once it started it proved a great success but
unfortunately the necessities of war have prevented its continuation.
Statistics in relation to this service are given in Table VIII in Appendix B.
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